This film suffered from not really deciding what it wants to be. It felt like four movies mashed into one: 1) an upbeat comedy about young rascals; 2) a tourism advert for various Indian historical locations; 3) a serious drama comparing modern corruption to historical injustices; and 4) propaganda encouraging political terrorism. All of these aspects of the film had their place, as the shift from comedy to tragedy showed how even the most politically unaware kids are affected by corruption in the end, and the shift between present and past shows how patriotic heroism can seem distant but it is always relevant. However, the integration between these elements of the film were clumsily handled and poorly paced until near the end - and even then, it seems to uphold the discredited "propaganda of the deed". Say what you will about the influence of the film - I'm glad it demonstrated the need for activism and showed how it's still relevant to our everyday lives - but the execution left me personally feeling a bit muddled.
Review of Rang De Basanti
